Ryanair hopes to land deals with major unions by Christmas

Ryanair hopes to reach deals with all of its major unions by Christmas, its CE said Monday, in a sign an end may be in sight to disruptions which have hit its profit and shares. The carrier Monday reported a 7% fall in profits in the six months to Sept. 30 on high fuel costs and intense competition. But it said these factors were helping it to resolve its industrial relations troubles. “Given the adverse environment that’s out there for airlines and the number of job losses being reported in recent weeks both by pilots and cabin crew, there is a much more sensible, common sense approach being taken by the unions,” CE Michael O’Leary saidn. O’Leary said that recent progress in talks left Germany and Belgium as the only two large markets for the airline where recognition agreements had not been secured. “We would be hopeful of concluding agreements with them this side of Christmas,” he added. The fall in profit was less than the 9% drop forecast by analysts.<br/>